Matthew 11:12-19

English Standard Version

¹²^(A)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,^[a] and the violent take it by force. ¹³^(B)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴and if you are willing to accept it, he is ^(C)Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵^(D)He who has ears to hear,^[b] let him hear.

¹⁶“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

¹⁷“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

¹⁸For John came ^(E)neither eating ^(F)nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came ^(G)eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, ^(H)a friend of ^(I)tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”^[c]